Machine for making paper tubes



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 2, 1886..

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2. M. D. KNOWLT'ON.

MACHINE 'FOR MAKING PAPER TUBES.

No. 337,165. Patented Mar. 2, 1886.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. D. KNOWLTON.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING PAPER TUBES.

No. 337,165. Patented Mar. 2, 1886.

mm STATES MARK D. KNOWLTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER TUBES.

SFECIFICATION formng part of Letters Application filed March 20,1385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK D. KNOWLTON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Tubes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mandrelsfor forming paper tubes, and also to machines for operating tube-forming mandrels which have gripping devices for grasping the edge of a sheet that is to be formed into a tube.

In theaccompanying drawings atube-forming mandrel containing my improvements in such devices is shown in a machine organized for its better operation.

Referring to said drawings in the following description, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the machine for Operating my improved mandrel and containing such mandrel, together with adjunctive devices. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the entire machine with certain parts of the mandrcl and its support broken away in order to reveal certain details of Construclion. Fig. 3 is an end view of the head of the machine or of the left-hand end of Fgs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite end of the machine in elevation, and with the mandrelcentering device thrown out of engagement with the free end of the mandrel. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a mandrel containing my improvements detached. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the mandrel through the slot which contains the gripping-slide thereof. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the mandrel at one end, as in the linexwof Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section of the mandrel and of a pressing-roller employed in conjunetion therewith in the machine illustrated in the preceding figures. SaidFig. 8 shows the gripping slide retracted, and the lip, which is employed in connection with said grip to grasp the edge of the paper, in that position with reference to the pressingroller in which the mandrel is stopped in the machine when brought to rest to admit the edge of the sheet Patent No. 33'7,165, dated March 2, 1886.

Serial No. !59,555. (No model.)

but showing the gripping-slide advanced and grasping the edge of the paper sheet hetween itself and the overhanging lip referred to, and also showing the mandrel as having made something more than one revolution in winding the paper thereon. View of a completed tube composed of several folds as it appears in end view a fterhaving been withdrawn from the mandrel. Fig. 11 shows a modification of the mandrel. Fig 12 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction of the clutch device for connecting ;the loose driving-pulley with the rotatingshaft of the machine, taken upon line a: x, Fig. l3. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12, the shaft and parts im-` mediately adjacent thereto being shown in section. Fig. 14 is a detail section through the shaft and adjacentportion of the loose pulley,

taken upon line y y of Fig. 13.

Inasmuch as the mandrel is capable of being used by itself or independently of the machine herein illustrated for its operation, or may be operatecl by other devices than those shown in said machine, said mandrel will be first and separately described. It consists of a cylinder, A, of any desired length and diameter, having a deep longitudinal slot or groove, a, therein, into which is fitted a than the depth of said groove, and isprovided with inclined surfaces by which, through anendwise movement of the slide, the latter will v be borne outwardly or inwardly, as the case may be.

Figs. 2 and 6 and in section in Figs. 8 and 9, consisting through the slide A', through which slots pass the pins or screws a?, having their supports in v the walls of the mandrel, as plainly shown in i 3 Fig. 9 is a section corresponding with Fig. '8,

Fig. 10 is a top In order to provide for the radial in the mandrel, said slide is made shallower A desired construction of such inclined surfacesis plainly shown in side View in of two or more oblique slots, a', out' IOO Figs. 2, 8, and 9. l`he lip A is preferably made I of paper which is to be formed into a tube.

as thin as practicable, consistent with the neees sary strength, to meet forcible outward pressure on the .part of the slide A', and the latter is desirably beveled beneath said strip, so that when the edge of the sheet S of paper is inserted beneath said' lip and the slide is forced outward against the same said slide will have its remaining outer surface flush. or subst-antially so, with the cylindric surface of the mandrel. Of course the extent of such outward movement ofthe slide A will dependsomewhatupon thethickness ofthc paper board, which is to be forned into tubes upon the mandrel, and if with the same slide somewhat thicker paperis used said slide will fail to extend outward perfectly flush with the curved surface of the mandrel. Generally a certain thickness of paper will be used for mandrels or tubes of a certain range of dianeters, and the slides will be beveled to correspond; but, if desired, different slides having different bevels may be used with the same mandrel for different thicknesses of paper, or slightly different thicknesses of paper may be used with the same maudrel and slide without practical objection.

The slide A' may be operated by any sort of a projection froni its end, either by hand or otherwise. Having grasped the edge of a sheet, S, between the slide and the lip A as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a rotation of the mandrel in the direction indicated by the arrows in said figures of the drawings will wrap the sheet about the mandrel as many times as it is desired to give thicknesses or folds to the tube. The upper surface of the paper sheet is glued in that portion which comes in contact with an inuer fold of the tube with the result of holding the folds permanently together and forming a tube of the character illustrated in Fig. 10. After the tube has been formed the slide A' is retracted, and the tube is slipped off the free end of the mandrel either entire or cut into short lengths, as will be herenafter further described.

Owing to the thinness of the lip A the sheet is not broken or far bent out of the circle of the mandrel by being inserted beneath said 1ip,and,as a result,when the tube is withdrawn from the mandrel that portion of the sheet which was inserted between the lip and slide of the mandrel springs outwardly by its own resiliency, so as to lie closely in contact with the outer fold, as shown in Fig. 10. In this respect tubes formed upon the mandrel constructed as described differ as a product from the tubes made upon other mandrels,in which the edge of the sheet is caught bythe mandrel preliminary to the operation of winding. The width of the slide A', particularly in mandrels of the large sizes, is preferably greater than would be necessary for the sole purpose of gripping the sheet, and is desira- `bly about one-fourth to one-third the diameter of the mandrel, in order that when it is retracted the tube will be slackened enough to allow of its being easily slipped off the nandrel.

The machine herein shown for Operating the mandrel described consists of the following devces:

B is a bed supported on legs b.

C C are two uprights Secured near one end of the bed, and constructed to afl'ord bearings for the shaft or spindle D, upon the outer end of which is located a Ioose driving-pulley, D', and upon the inner end of, which is located a face-plate, D, to which the nandrel A is fastened axially in line with the spindle. For the purpose of affordiug attachment of the mandrel A to the face-plate D, said mandrel is provided with a head, A having a marginal tlange, a which sets over the margin of the face-plate D to insure concentricity of the mandrel with said face-plate and its actuating-spindle D. Bolts d pass through the faceplate D' and are tapped into the head A", and firmly hold the mandrel substautially rigid and in line with the spindle. The spindle D is provided with a collar or clutch-plate, D*, adjustably fixed thereon adjacent to the continuously rotating driving pulley D', and suitable stop devices, one form of which is herein shown in Fig. 2and will be herein-- after briefly explaned, are used to communicate motion from the loose pulley D' to the clutch-plate D and spindle D. The spindle D is hollow, and through its axial opening passes a longitudinally-novable rod, E,which at its inner end is screwed into a short bolt, A fitted to slide lengthwise in an axial hole in the closed end of the nandrel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This short bolt A is provided with a head, a*, which projects behind and engages a lip, a on the adjacent end of theslide A', as also indicatedin Figs. Zand 6. By this connection, obviously, a longitudinal movement of the rod E will give a corresponding movement to the slide A, while at the same time allowing said slide to move radially of the mandrel by the action of the guide-pins a.

F isalever for the actuation or longitudinal movement of the rod E, said lever F being in the present case pivoted at its lower end to a bracket, F', which is fastened to the end of the bed B. The upper end of the lever F is slotted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to straddle the rod E, and acts upon the said rod in both directions through the medium of collars e e on the rod, one or both of said cllars being preferably adjustably fitted upon the threaded end of said rod E.

The lever F, as here shown, is vbrated by means of a foot-lever, G, at the right-hand end of the machine, or in position convenient for the operator, who stands about centrally opposite the mandrel A. Said foot-lever G, in the construction herein shown, is also made to simultaueously throw into engagement with the free end of the mandrel a centering-lever, H, by which said mandrel,when at work, nay be firmly supported at its free end in order to prevent its vibration. For this purpose the outer or free end of the mandrel is provided witha cap, A having a central socket or bole,

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` taneously by a single movement of the same foot-lever G, the lower end of the lever His constructed essentially as a bell-lever, as indicated in Fig. 2. With the upper arm of said crank is pivotally connected the foot-lever rod g, while the lower arm tlereof is pivoted to the rod G', which is connected with the lever F. In order to produce the short movement of the mandrel slide A' at about the same time that the eentering-pin h engages With the mandrel cap A, the rod G' is passed loosely through a slot or hole atf in the lever F, and,

is screw-threaded to receive the double nnts g', which may be adjusted to strike the lever F near the termination of the several movements of the rod G', and to thereby cause the slide A' to grasp the paper at the last monent before the said mandrel is set in motion and at about the time of the engagement of the centering-pin h with the free end of the mandrel.

A spring applied to the foot-1ever or to one of the moving parts connected therewith may be used to hold said foot-lever normally raised and the centering-lever H and the slide A' retracted. Such a spring is indicated at h', Fig. 4, and in dotted lines of Fig. 2, wherein it is .shown connected at one end with the lower part or arm of the lever H, and at the other end with a stationary point on the machinebed at the left-hand of said lever.

The clutch device by which the loose driving-pulley D engages the collar D* and sets the mandrel in motion is also operated by the same foot-lever G, and will be so adjusted as to set said mandrel in motion after the mandrel-slide has gripped the edge of the sheet to be formed into a tube and the centering-lever H has engaged with the mandrel-Gap. The clutch and stop for this purpose may be of any desired Construction, of which many forms are familarly known in power-presses and other machines.

The stop-clutch shown in Fig. 2 is of a wellknown form, and comprises a movable lug or stop, K, located in a recess in the shaft D, said lug or stop being attached to a rock-shaft, K'. located in the shaft parallel with the axis thereof, and provided with an arm, K projecting outwardly through a recess, D", in the collar D whereby the rock-shaft may be actuated. Said recess is made of segmental form, so as to allow an oscillatory movenent in the arm, and a spring, d, is applied between one wall of the recess and the arm to hold the latter in position to cause engagement of the stop or lug with the pulley.

K is a horizontally-arranged plate' pivoted to the machineframe at one end,and sistained.

at its free end by a vertically-movable arm, J, by means of which the 'plate may be lifted into the path of the arm, or depressed, so as toallow the arm to pass over it. In the operation of the parts of the clutch device mentioned the spindle will obviously continue to revolve while the plate K is depressed; but the pulley will be released from the spindle, and the motion of the latter arrested, if the said plate is lifted into position to engage the arm.

`In Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawi ngs the parts are shown in full lines with the clutch device engaged, and the arm K at the moment before the spindle is released from the pulley. The` dotted lines in said figure show the position of the collar and shaft after their motion has been arrested by the action of the said plate' and arm. When the spindle has been stopped in the manner set forth, the spring d will obviously be compressed, and the arm K being engaged With the plate K said spring will obviously tend to rotate the collar D and thespindle backward; and in order to cause the sha ft under all circumstances to positively stop and remain immovably in the same place, a spring-pawl, K is preferably arranged upon 'the frame in position to engage a stop or pro-' the paper-board against the mandrel during' the operation of forming the tube, and it is therefore adj ustable to and from said mandrel. For this purpose it is rotatably mounted in the arms I', which are pivoted to lugs at z' on the bed, and are rigidly joined to each other by the bar P. A lever, 1 fastened to the bar P, and extending backward beyond the pivotal axis of the presser-f'ame, carries a weight, W, which obviously operates to normally force the roller I upwardly against the mandrel, or against the paper being wound thereon. The roller is depressed by a footlever, P, connected by a rod, %with the front end ofthe lever 1 This foot-lever is operated only when the tube has been completed and is to be withdrawn from the mandrel.

With reference to the position of the presser-roller I, which is preferably in front of and below the aXis of the mandrel, as 'shown in' Figs. 4, 8, and 9, the clutch and stop devices for actuating the mandrel are desirably adjusted to bring the mandrel to rest With the free edge ot' the lip A in contact with' the presser-roller, as shown in Fig. 8. The man drel and roller in these positions together serve This pawl and stop is shown in full lines' Upon this rod is- IOO IIO

as a ready and certain guide for directing the edge of the paper-board into the space between the said lip and the mandrel-slide.

Fo'r cutting the tube into short lengths, or for trimming its end on the mandrel after it has .been otherwise completed, the familiar device of one or more rotary cutters, L, adjustably mounted on a rocking frame, L', is employed. This frame-s preferabl y made adjustable, so as to work in sufiiciently-close relation to the surfaces of mandrels of different sizes to sever the tubes, but without marring the mandrels. The devices for this adjustment consist of a depending arm, M, fastened to the under side of the bar N of the cuttersupporting frame, and an adjustable stop, O, fixed tothe bed B, against which stop the bar M will strike when the cutters are thrown forward, so as to thereby limit the forward throw of said cutters. The stop consists, as here shown, of a screw-bolt, O, threaded through the cross piece p of the plate P, which is secured to the machine-bed, said plate being provided with an aperture, 19', through which the arm M depends.

The operation of the machine will be manifest from the foregoing description, but may be briefly stated. A mandrel of proper diameter having been 'secured in the face-plate D and its slide-Operating pin Af having been connected properly with the rod E, and said rod retracted to draw the mandrel-slide inward, the edge of a paper or straw board sheet which is to form the tube is inserted beneath the gripping-surfaces, as shown in Fig. 8. The foot-lever G is then depressed, by which movement the center support, H, is swung up into engagemeut with the free end of the mandrel, the nandrel slidc A' is forced out to catch the edge of the sheet S, and the clutch engages the drivepulley D' with the collar D* and sets the mandrel in motion. The presser-rol1er I is in operation, and wraps thesheet closely upon the mandrel during the rotation of the latter. The glue applied to the sheet S causes the folds thereof thus formed to adhere, and when the entire sheet has been wrapped on the mandrel the tube is completed. The foot is then lifted from the lever G, whereupon the spring h or its equivalent throws ofl' the arm H, draws out the rod E, retracts the mandrel-slide A', relea'sing the edge of the sheet, and releases the drivingclutch, so that the mandrel may stop in the proper position, as shown in Fig. 8, and previously referred to. The footlever I* is then depressed to retract the presser-roller I, after which the tube may be slipped ofl' the free end of the mandrel, either entire or afterhaving been cut by the cutters L. The withdrawal of the tube is made. easy by the slight fiattening thereof that may take place opposi te the retracted slide A', which, as already stated, is in the larger mandrels made wide enough to give this efl'ect. In 'the smaller sizes of man drel said slide need be little or no wider than the lip A than is suficient to give admission to the sheet S beneath the said lip.

Fg. 11 of the drawings shows a modification in the former described devices for Operating the mandrel-slide A' in the machine. In said Fig. 11 the rod E is dispensed with and the slide A' is thrown out by the lever H, (which also upholds the free end of the mandrel.) and is retracted by a spring. To this end the piu upon lever H, which affords a center for the madrel operates to push the slide A' lengthwise. In this construction the slide or grip A is shown, as before, as having a longitudinal movement and inclined slots by which to get the desired radia1 motion of said slide, and the said longitudinal movement is produced directly by the centering-pin on the lever H. A desrable form of this centering-pin for this purpose is shown in Fig. 11, consisting of a hollow tapered pin, h, adjustably Secured in the said lever H, and an inner thrust-pin, h which is also adjustable. Such adjustability is obtained by threading the thrust-pin through the center pin, h, and applying thereto a setnut. The hole or cavity a in the cap-plate of the mandrel is in this case countersuuk or tapered,to properly seat the end of the pin,and extends through the cap to admit the thrustpin h When the lever His lifted, the pin h strikes the end of the slide A' and forces it lengthwise and outwardly into gripping action, and on the lowering of said lever the slide A' recedes by the operation of a spring, a interposed between the opposite end of the slide and the adjacent head of the mandrel, or otherwise arranged for the purpose.

It is to be understood that the desired radial or lateral movement of the gripping-slide is not necessarily accompanied by a longitudinal motion of said slide, but that any of the well known devices for producing lateral notion of a similar part may be employed as the equivalent of the contrivances here shown.

When the tube is withdrawn from the mandrel, the edge of the sheet which was grasped springs out into contact with the exterior ad jacent fold, and presents no shoulder, except at its very edge.

I claim as my invention- 1. A tube-forming mandrel consisting, essentially, of a cylinder provided with a longitudinal slot, a lip or ledge overhanging one side of said slot, and a radially-movahle slide located in said slot beneath the lip, substantially as set forth.

2. A tube-forming nandrel consisting, essentially, of a cylinder provided with a longitudinal slot, a, a lip, A, overhanging one margin of said slot, and a radially-movahle slide, A', fitted to said slot and beveled beneatlthe lip, said slot and slide being materially wider than the lip, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A tube-forning maudrel comprising a cylinder provided with a longitudinal slot, a

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lip overhanging one margin of said slot, and V an outwardly and inwardly movable slide located in the slot and acting in opposition to the lip, in combination with suitable means 5 for supporting and rotating the mandrel and means for actuating the slide, substantially as.

and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with a tube-forming inandrel provided with a slot, a lip, and a radially- IO movable slide located in the slot, a suitablysupported spindle, D, constructed to connect with the mandrel and provided with a collar, Dfl and adjacent loose pulley, D', a rod, E, passing through the spindle into engagement 1 with the mandrelslide, and an external lever engaged with the rod E, substan'tially as described.

5. In combination with a mandrel having a slot, lip, and novable slide, as set forth, a suitable support for the mandrel, means for intermittently rotating the mandrel, and means for actuating the slide operated by a foot-level', substantially as described.

6. In combination with the mandrel having 2 5 a slot, slide, and lip, as set forth, a hollow spindle, D, supporting the mandrel, a rod, E, passing through the spindle and engaged with the slide, and a foot-lever and connections for Operating the rod E and Inandrelslide, substantially as described.

7. In combination with the tube-forn1ing mandrel A, rotatably nounted and provided with a slot, a lip, and a slide, as set forth, of'

a movable presser, I, guiding the edge of the sheet which is to be formed into the spacebeneath the lip of the mandrel, when said mandrel is brought to rest with its lip adjacent to the presser, substantially as described.

8. In combination Witha tube-forming .mandrel, A, provided with a slot, lip, and slide, as set forth, a spindle, D, supporting the mandrel and provided with a loose pulley, D', and adjustable collar D asuitable stop-clutch mechanism for intermittently engaging the pulley with the collar, and a presser, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the spindle-rod E, for actuating the mandrel-slide, and with a movable support, H, for the free end of the mandrel, a single foot-lever, G, and connections leading from said foot-lever to both the rod E and the support H, actuating both by the same movement of the foot-lever, substanstantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 5 5 invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAR-K D. KNOWLTON.

VVitnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, OLIVER E. PAGIN. 

